It's not a story; it's not as linear as that, pouring out in a stream of image and memory and emotion. But the central image is clear -- River Tam's face, with a different face concealed underneath it: a dark young woman with purple hair and eyes.
Surprise, from Charles, and an echoing image: a tanned boy with black hair and dark eyes, with Charles' face beneath.
There's so much in the kythe, and some of it is wonderful and a great deal of it is terrifying, and the end of it is this -- standing here, where a friend stood, before the rose's music
No one takes much notice of them standing there. Not even today, with so much disarray still needing to be put into order, with anything out of the ordinary likely to be suspicious; the two strangers stand before the garden of the rose, lost (and found) in its song, and no one troubles them.
It's about twenty minutes before the elevator doors open, and Charlie comes out -- very slowly, and leaning heavily on Michael Copeland's arm.
Zillah doesn't look up, but she smiles. "She's here. I know it. Blessedness comes in the night and the day, and whither the wise heart knows."
(The rest of the line is as clear in Charles's mind as though she's spoken it aloud: And one has seen in the redness of wine / the Incorruptible Rose.)
She lifts her free hand, and gestures toward the elevator banks. "Oh, do not ask what is it."
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2009-06-11 04:04 am (UTC)(I know what you are)
(and yet a woman's powerful character / could keep a swallow to its first intent)
(I shall be good as new)
It's not a story; it's not as linear as that, pouring out in a stream of image and memory and emotion. But the central image is clear -- River Tam's face, with a different face concealed underneath it: a dark young woman with purple hair and eyes.
no subject
Date: 2009-06-11 04:40 am (UTC)There's so much in the kythe, and some of it is wonderful and a great deal of it is terrifying, and the end of it is this -- standing here, where a friend stood, before the rose's music
(that lovingness joins the music of the spheres)
and within it.
no subject
Date: 2009-06-12 02:54 am (UTC)It's about twenty minutes before the elevator doors open, and Charlie comes out -- very slowly, and leaning heavily on Michael Copeland's arm.
no subject
Date: 2009-06-12 03:02 am (UTC)"Zillah."
no subject
Date: 2009-06-12 03:21 am (UTC)(The rest of the line is as clear in Charles's mind as though she's spoken it aloud: And one has seen in the redness of wine / the Incorruptible Rose.)
She lifts her free hand, and gestures toward the elevator banks. "Oh, do not ask what is it."
no subject
Date: 2009-06-12 03:26 am (UTC)"Let us go and make our visit."
They turn to join Charlie, leaving the rose.
But it's not something that ever leaves you.